Tarocco #7 blood orange

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck

CRC 3596

PI 539549

VI 384

Photos by Toni Siebert, CVC. Photo rights.

Source: Received as budwood from a seedling from CRC #2796, produced at CRC, 1967.

Parentage/origins: Tarocco blood orange was introduced from an unknown Mediterranean country to Florida about 1880 and brought to California soon after.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, C-35 citrange

Season of ripeness at Riverside: December to February

Notes and observations:

EMN, 1986: This seedling line was chosen for propagation because of its outstanding performance on fruit production, vigor, fruit size, and its deep red color in the flesh and rind. The quality of the fruit is also excellent. This accession was shoot tip grafted to eliminate exocortis during procession as VI 384.

EMN, 2/4/1988: Few seeds, very nice flavor.

OJB: Tarocco #7 is a medium-large to large blood orange variety with few to no seeds. Tarocco blood orange if one of the major blood orange varieties of the world.  The distinctive color is a natural mutation and is due to the presence of anthocyanin, the same plant compound that is responsible for the color of pomegranates.  The distinctive color requires a chilly winter to develop properly. Tarocco #7 is one of the most delicious blood orange varieties in the Citrus Variety Collection, although the rind of this blood orange gets very little to no coloration at all. The tree is vigorous, but only moderately productive. Tarocco's season is similar to the Moro, maturing in January here in Riverside.

Availability: Commercially available in California through the Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Tarocco #7 blood orange

CVC Fruit Quality Data for Tarocco #7 blood orange